Turkey's Premier Leaves For Turkmenistan

ANKARA - Turkish Prime Minister said on Friday that Turkey carried on with its EU process in a determined way.

Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan held a press conference at Ankara's Esenboga airport before leaving for Turkmenistan, which will be the first stop of his visit to Central Asia.

Erdogan said that he would pay a visit to Turkmenistan upon an invitation from Turkmen President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedow, and later on, he would proceed to Mongolia.

Turkish State Minister and Deputy Premier Hayati Yazici, State Minister Said Yazicioglu, Industry & Trade Minister Zafer Caglayan, Energy & Natural Resources Minister Hilmi Guler and a group of deputies will accompany Erdogan during his visit.

Erdogan said that impacts of the recent global crisis, energy issue, relations between Turkey and Turkmenistan, as well as regional and international issues would be on the agenda of his talks with Turkmen officials.

Noting that a "Turkey-Turkmenistan Business Forum" meeting would be held within the scope of his visit, Erdogan said he would also meet with Turkish businessmen and Turkish citizens living in Turkmenistan.

Commenting on his visit to Mongolia as well, Erdogan said he would attend various inaugural ceremonies and hold talks with Mongolian officials.

"I hope these visits will contribute to the peace, stability and prosperity in our region," he said.

Upon a question on the recent news claiming that Turkey's current chief negotiator for EU talks would be changed soon, Erdogan said necessary statements would be delivered if such a step was taken.

"Currently, we are carrying on with our studies regarding Turkey's EU process in a determined way together with our ministers, technocrats and bureaucrats," he said.